RD66 - Annual Report on the Status and Effectiveness of Offender Drug Screening, Assessment and Treatment


Executive Summary:
In 1998, the Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill 664 and Senate Bill 317 enacting the Drug Offender Screening, Assessment and Treatment (DSAT) initiative. The DSAT legislation, subsequently amended in 1999, outlined specific substance abuse screening and assessment provisions that became effective for offenses committed on or after January 1, 2000. These provisions, contained in §§ 16.1-273, 18.2-251.01, 19.2-299, 19.2-299.2 and 19.2-123(B) [effective 07/01/2000], of the Code of Virginia*, target three offender groups: juveniles, adult felons and adult misdemeanants. Because several different types of offenders are subject to the Code mandates, the initiative affects staff and clients of numerous agencies, including the Departments of Corrections (DOC), Juvenile Justice (DJJ), local community-based probation and pretrial services agencies administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), the Commission on Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP) and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS).

The Interagency Drug Offender Screening and Assessment Committee was created by § 2.2-223 (formerly § 2.1-51.18:3) to oversee the screening and assessment provisions contained in the Code of Virginia. The Interagency Committee, with representation from all affected agencies and the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission, is charged with ensuring the quality and consistency of the screening and assessment process across the Commonwealth. The Secretary of Public Safety serves as chairperson. The Interagency Committee serves to promote interagency coordination and cooperation. The Interagency Committee is required by § 2.2-223 to submit a report each year to the General Assembly.

Significant, but required, budget and staff reductions have affected each of the principal agencies. In response to cuts in funding since 2001, particularly the elimination of Substance Abuse Reduction Effort (SABRE) funds, agencies involved in screening and assessment activities have examined protocols and developed alternative strategies to maximize the use of remaining resources. Despite the elimination of a substantial number of staff positions formerly devoted to this task, the agencies have continued their efforts to address offenders’ substance abuse needs by streamlining the process, utilizing other screening instruments and otherwise attempting to make this task more manageable for the fewer number of staff involved. The number and type of services available has decreased significantly.

* NOTE: §§ 18.2-251, 252 and 254 were also amended to support screening and assessment in drug offense cases or where substance abuse was indicated.